Paratransit Services

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requires that all fixed-route transit systems (with the exception of commuter rail systems) provide paratransit for persons with disabilities who are certified paratransit eligible.  The Washington region has responded by developing MetroAccess, a regional paratransit service operated by WMATA and its member jurisdictions since it was initiated on May 16, 1994.

            Eligible Users:  People are considered eligible for paratransit service if they are:

1. A person who is unable, as the result of a physical or mental impairment, to get on, ride or get off any                     vehicle on the transit system; or

2. A person who needs the assistance of a wheelchair lift or other boarding assistance device and is able, with such assistance, to get on, ride and get off any accessible vehicle BUT such a vehicle is not available on the route when the person wants to travel; or

3. A person who has a specific impairment-related condition which prevents travel to or from a bus stop or rail station.

The traveler's need for paratransit service must be certified by a healthcare professional and a complete application returned to WMATA in order for a person to be approved to use the service.

The paratransit service area is that area within 3/4 of a mile of any WMATA bus or rail station service area.   MetroAccess operates 365 days a year, including all federal, state and local holidays and during special events when the fixed route systems are operating.   Fares are $2.20.

 WMATA currently has a four-year contract with LogistiCare (including options) which will expire in 2004.

Figure 30 compares information for core carriers and local paratransit service providers in the region. Figure 31 shows the distribution of MetroAccess customers throughout the Virginia jurisdictions. Of the 2,540 passenger trips provided by MetroAccess on an average weekday in December, 2002, about 14.4 percent (360) occurred in Northern Virginia.  Virginia has over 21 percent of registered MetroAccess Users.

Use of MetroAccess is accelerating.  On an average weekday at the end of calendar 2002, 3,400 MetroAccess trips were provided throughout the Metropolitan Washington area, comprising about three percent of WMATA’s systemwide weekday ridership of 1,060,500.  Compared to the first half of FY 2002, MetroAccess total ridership (at 466,190 trips) was up over 40 percent in the first half of FY 2003.

Considering MetroAccess and the other paratransit systems operating in Northern Virginia, average daily ridership exceeds 2,100.   Figure 32 provides contacts for the various jurisdictions in Northern Virginia. 

*Includes Maryland, the District of Columbia and Virginia.

Figure 31:  MetroAccess Monthly Performance (December, 2002)